United Kingdom • Updated 2026
Is it worth living in Reading on £40,000?
Compare take-home pay vs essentials (rent, food, transport, utilities). Use sliders to match your situation — then judge by disposable left + rent pressure.
Take-home (monthly)
£2,602
Essentials total
£2,120
Disposable left
£482
Rent % of income
58%
Rent£1,500
Food£290
Transport£150
Utilities£180
Verdict
0/100 • Struggle Rent in Reading is the biggest challenge here, consuming over half your take-home pay. You will have some spending money, but big savings goals or frequent travel might be tight. Overall, this salary is likely too low for an independent lifestyle in Reading without compromises.
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FAQ
Is this accurate?
It’s a consistent baseline for comparisons. Sliders let you match your real situation.
What comfort score is “good”?
Rough guide: 70+ comfortable, 50–69 okay, 30–49 tight, below 30 struggle.
What’s the best lever?
Rent. If rent is high relative to take-home, the outcome is tight even on decent salaries.